Core77

The Aircraft Interiors Expo is a yearly event featuring the latest developments in cabin interiors - this week some 11.000 visitors made their way to Hamburg for an update on the future of flying.

The show begins at the Open Technology Forum including rivals Airbus and Boeing discussing the latest aircraft concepts and innovations. No worries for mistaking the new A380 for a 787 Dreamliner since their all new interiors are set for more brand differentiation.

"We want to change the aircraft from an utilitarian space to a living space" says Joseph Debacq, Director of Aircraft Interiors Marketing at Airbus, driven by customer comfort and inspired by architecture. Comfort requires flexibility and so a "Snap-N-Click" system supports quick cabin re-configuration for custom economy/business-class layouts and artificial lighting alleviates jet lags.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo is a great place to see how new technology is both picked up in function-based engineering and customer-focused design. We experienced that building new aircrafts may be all about engineering but interiors is where the customer comes first.

With the foreseen comfort, wireless internet and on-board gaming - one question began to play in my mind "What to do with passengers that don't want to get off anymore?"

Maybe use that scary CREW suit...